Patentable/Patents/US-9621055
US-9621055

Controller with leakage current protection of a diode and operation method thereof

PublishedApril 11, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A controller with leakage current protection of a diode includes a comparison unit, a reference voltage generation unit, a time out signal generation unit, and a gate signal generation unit, wherein the diode is applied to a secondary side of a power converter. The comparison unit outputs a corresponding selection signal according to a compensation voltage and a threshold. The reference voltage generation unit outputs a corresponding reference voltage range according to the corresponding selection signal. The time out signal generation unit determines a corresponding time out according to the corresponding selection signal, and generates a corresponding time out signal when a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding has no peak to cross an upper limit of the corresponding reference voltage range during the corresponding time out. The gate signal generation unit enters the leakage current protection or a quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal.

Patent Claims
21 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A controller with leakage current protection of a diode, wherein the diode is applied to a secondary side of a power converter, the controller comprising: a comparison unit for receiving a compensation voltage, and outputting a corresponding selection signal according to the compensation voltage and a threshold; a reference voltage generation unit for outputting a corresponding reference voltage range according to the corresponding selection signal; a time out signal generation unit for determining a corresponding time out according to the corresponding selection signal, and generating a corresponding time out signal when a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding of the power converter has no peak to cross an upper limit of the corresponding reference voltage range during the corresponding time out; and a gate signal generation unit for entering the leakage current protection or a quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal.

Plain English Translation

A controller protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter. It uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal. A reference voltage generation unit then outputs a reference voltage range based on this selection signal. A time-out signal generation unit determines a time-out period, also based on the selection signal. If the voltage from an auxiliary winding (reflecting secondary-side voltage) doesn't exceed the reference voltage range's upper limit within this time-out, a time-out signal is generated. Finally, a gate signal generation unit, based on the time-out signal, either enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, controlling the power switch on the primary side.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The controller claim 1 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit not generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that outputs a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters leakage current protection by not generating the gate signal needed for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The controller claim 1 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to a hiccup mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that outputs a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters leakage current protection by generating a gate signal for "hiccup mode" to the primary side power switch. Hiccup mode means the converter cycles on and off.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The controller claim 1 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being less than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that outputs a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters quasi-resonant mode by generating a gate signal for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The controller claim 1 , wherein the compensation voltage corresponds to a load of the secondary side of the power converter.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that outputs a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, the compensation voltage used in the comparison unit reflects the load on the secondary side of the power converter.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The controller claim 1 , wherein when the compensation voltage is less than the threshold and peaks of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter are continuously crossed the upper limit of the corresponding reference voltage range, the gate signal generation unit further enters the quasi-resonant mode according to a predetermined valley of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that outputs a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold AND the auxiliary winding voltage consistently exceeds the reference voltage range upper limit, the gate signal generation unit then enters quasi-resonant mode triggered by a valley in the auxiliary winding voltage.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. A controller with leakage current protection of a diode, wherein the diode is applied to a secondary side of a power converter, the controller comprising: a comparison unit for receiving a compensation voltage, and outputting a corresponding selection signal according to the compensation voltage and a threshold; a reference voltage generation unit for outputting a first reference voltage range according to first a plurality of peaks of a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding of the power converter, and outputting a second reference voltage range after first the plurality of peaks; a time out signal generation unit for determining a corresponding time out according to the corresponding selection signal, and generating a corresponding time out signal when the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter has no peak to cross an upper limit of the first reference voltage range and an upper limit of the second reference voltage range during the corresponding time out, or to cross the upper limit of the second reference voltage range during the corresponding time out, wherein the upper limit of the first reference voltage range is greater than the upper limit of the second reference voltage range; and a gate signal generation unit for entering the leakage current protection or a quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal.

Plain English Translation

A controller protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter. A comparison unit compares a compensation voltage to a threshold, outputting a selection signal. A reference voltage generation unit generates *two* reference voltage ranges: a first based on initial peaks of the auxiliary winding voltage, and a second after those initial peaks. A time-out unit determines a time-out period based on the selection signal. A time-out signal is generated if the auxiliary winding voltage doesn't exceed the upper limit of either reference voltage range within the time-out. The first reference voltage range's upper limit is higher than the second. Finally, a gate signal generation unit enables leakage current protection or quasi-resonant mode based on the time-out signal.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit not generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that generates two reference voltage ranges, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters leakage current protection by not generating the gate signal needed for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to a hiccup mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that generates two reference voltage ranges, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters leakage current protection by generating a gate signal for "hiccup mode" to the primary side power switch. Hiccup mode means the converter cycles on and off.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal is the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being less than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that generates two reference voltage ranges, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold, the gate signal generation unit enters quasi-resonant mode by generating a gate signal for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The controller claim 7 , wherein when the compensation voltage is less than the threshold and peaks of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter are continuously crossed the upper limit of the first reference voltage range or the upper limit of the second reference voltage range, the gate signal generation unit further enters the quasi-resonant mode according to a predetermined valley of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter.

Plain English Translation

In the controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which uses a comparison unit that compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, a reference voltage generation unit that generates two reference voltage ranges, a time-out signal generation unit that determines a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and a gate signal generation unit that enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold AND the auxiliary winding voltage consistently exceeds either reference voltage range upper limit, the gate signal generation unit then enters quasi-resonant mode triggered by a valley in the auxiliary winding voltage.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. An operation method of a controller, wherein the controller has leakage current protection of a diode, the diode is applied to a secondary side of a power converter, and the controller comprises a comparison unit, a reference voltage generation unit, a time out signal generation unit, and a gate signal generation unit, the operation method comprising: the comparison unit receiving a compensation voltage; the comparison unit outputting a corresponding selection signal according to the compensation voltage and a threshold; the reference voltage generation unit outputting a corresponding reference voltage range according to the corresponding selection signal; the time out signal generation unit determining a corresponding time out according to the corresponding selection signal; the time out signal generation unit generating a corresponding time out signal when a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding of the power converter has no peak to cross an upper limit of the corresponding reference voltage range during the corresponding time out; and the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection or a quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal.

Plain English Translation

A method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter. The method involves the comparison unit comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, and outputting a selection signal. The reference voltage generation unit then outputs a reference voltage range based on this selection signal. The time-out signal generation unit determines a time-out period, also based on the selection signal. If the voltage from an auxiliary winding (reflecting secondary-side voltage) doesn't exceed the reference voltage range's upper limit within this time-out, a time-out signal is generated. Finally, the gate signal generation unit, based on the time-out signal, either enables leakage current protection or operates in quasi-resonant mode, controlling the power switch on the primary side.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The operation method of claim 12 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit not generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, outputting a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, entering leakage current protection involves not generating the gate signal needed for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The operation method of claim 12 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to a hiccup mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, outputting a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, entering leakage current protection involves generating a gate signal for "hiccup mode" to the primary side power switch. Hiccup mode means the converter cycles on and off.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The operation method of claim 12 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being less than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, outputting a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold, entering quasi-resonant mode involves generating a gate signal for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The operation method of claim 12 , further comprising: the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to a predetermined valley of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter when the compensation voltage is less than the threshold and peaks of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter are continuously crossed the upper limit of the corresponding reference voltage range.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, outputting a reference voltage range based on the selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold AND the auxiliary winding voltage consistently exceeds the reference voltage range upper limit, the method includes entering quasi-resonant mode triggered by a valley in the auxiliary winding voltage.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. An operation method of a controller, wherein the controller has leakage current protection of a diode, the diode is applied to a secondary side of a power converter, and the controller comprises a comparison unit, a reference voltage generation unit, a time out signal generation unit, and a gate signal generation unit, the operation method comprising: the comparison unit receiving a compensation voltage; the reference voltage generation unit outputting a first reference voltage range according to first a plurality of peaks of a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding of the power converter, and outputting a second reference voltage range after first the plurality of peaks; the comparison unit outputting a corresponding selection signal according to the compensation voltage and a threshold; the time out signal generation unit determining a corresponding time out according to the corresponding selection signal; the time out signal generation unit generating a corresponding time out signal when the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter has no peak to cross an upper limit of the first reference voltage range and an upper limit of the second reference voltage range, or to cross the upper limit of the second reference voltage range during the corresponding time out, wherein the upper limit of the first reference voltage range is greater than the upper limit of the second reference voltage range; and the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection or a quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal.

Plain English Translation

A method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter. The method involves outputting a first reference voltage range based on initial peaks of the auxiliary winding voltage, and outputting a second reference voltage range after those initial peaks. Also, the comparison unit compares a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal. A time-out unit determines a time-out period based on the selection signal. A time-out signal is generated if the auxiliary winding voltage doesn't exceed the upper limit of either reference voltage range within the time-out. The first reference voltage range's upper limit is higher than the second. Finally, a gate signal generation unit enables leakage current protection or quasi-resonant mode based on the time-out signal.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The operation method of claim 17 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit not generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves outputting two reference voltage ranges, comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, entering leakage current protection involves not generating the gate signal needed for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The operation method of claim 17 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the leakage current protection according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to a hiccup mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being greater than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves outputting two reference voltage ranges, comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is greater than the threshold, entering leakage current protection involves generating a gate signal for "hiccup mode" to the primary side power switch. Hiccup mode means the converter cycles on and off.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The operation method of claim 17 , wherein the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to the corresponding time out signal comprises: the gate signal generation unit generating a gate signal corresponding to the quasi-resonant mode to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the corresponding time out signal when the corresponding time out corresponds to the compensation voltage being less than the threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves outputting two reference voltage ranges, comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold, entering quasi-resonant mode involves generating a gate signal for quasi-resonant mode to the primary side power switch.

Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. The operation method of claim 17 , further comprising: the gate signal generation unit entering the quasi-resonant mode according to a predetermined valley of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter when the compensation voltage is less than the threshold and peaks of the voltage corresponding to the auxiliary winding of the power converter are continuously crossed the upper limit of the first reference voltage range or the upper limit of the second reference voltage range.

Plain English Translation

In the method for a controller that protects a diode on the secondary side of a power converter which involves outputting two reference voltage ranges, comparing a compensation voltage (related to load) to a threshold, outputting a selection signal, determining a time-out period based on the selection signal, generating a time-out signal if auxiliary winding voltage doesn't cross the reference voltage range upper limit, and enabling leakage current protection or operating in quasi-resonant mode, if the compensation voltage is less than the threshold AND the auxiliary winding voltage consistently exceeds either reference voltage range upper limit, the method includes entering quasi-resonant mode triggered by a valley in the auxiliary winding voltage.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

August 31, 2015

Publication Date

April 11, 2017

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